Exercise doesn’t have to be a grueling task. You can gain all the benefits of powerful cardiovascular exercise through surfing. Not only do you work out your body by surfing, but you can also improve your mood, mental health, and reap all the health benefits of being out in the ocean. According to The Surfing…
Early recovery can be a tough time in regards to our physical health. We may have entered into treatment in a state of malnourishment, deficient in the vitamins and minerals that we need to feel happy and healthy. Exercise and a balanced diet are of crucial importance, but we may find it beneficial to begin…
Addiction is a complex disease that requires many different physical and psychological treatment methods to overcome. Many people hold the erroneous view that addiction is simply physical dependence, and an individual is cured of addiction once their physical dependence to a substance is broken. The simple fact is that addiction cannot be cured. It can,…
There is much debate on the topic of whether addiction is a disease or a choice. From experience, men and women who have successfully recovered from addiction and alcoholism can emphatically say that they had lost the power of choice. Willpower simply was not enough, and recovery meant more than just making the choice not…
There is a saying in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous: “A grateful alcoholic never relapses.” This is true for all addictions. When we stay grateful, we find that we are in much less danger of giving up on our sobriety. We stay appreciative of all that we have been given that has helped us along…
As men and women suffering from the disease of addiction, we have trouble appreciating the moment. Before we found sobriety, we were consumed by thoughts of the next drink or drug and developed a preoccupation with what the future may or may not bring that we became unaccustomed to living in the present. Early sobriety…
Psychedelics, like LSD, DMT, mescaline, and psilocybin, are a class of hallucinogenic drugs takes because they alter perception and cognition, giving users feelings of heightened and altered consciousness. Psychedelics do not create the same changes in brain chemistry that lead to physical dependence as other drugs, so many people do not believe that addiction to…
Early in our sobriety, there will be moment when we feel down in the dumps and don’t want to do anything. Lethargy, depression, and anxiety can all be symptoms of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, and can keep us from feeling motivated. Many of these symptoms can be manageable, but it’s important to find a sense of…
Going to treatment is one of the best decisions we can make for ourselves. Some may be worried about the stigma associated with going away for treatment and what they will tell their loved ones. However, we will often be surprised by how understanding others are about our decision and may even find encouragement from…
We use all sorts of techniques to keep ourselves from feeling judged for our addictions. We wear masks throughout our day-to-day interactions, doing our best to keep others from seeing the suffering and desperation we feel internally. Eventually, we begin deceiving ourselves and others by playing roles that do not accurately reflect who we truly…